Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-22
POPOCATAPETL.
TIE GRAND OLD MONARCH SEN
TINEh OF MEXICO.
Into the Land OF the Sky and Awe
REPRESENTATIONS of the
Twin Volcanoes

Special Correspondence OF the REcoRD-Usios |
AxuA-M MICA, Mexico, Oct. IL, 1857
| don't know whether | would advise
ANYBODY 10 attempt the ascent Of Popoca-
tapetl tried il myself, long ago, during
the first year of my first visit to Mexico,
melted thereto by the beloved companion
Of my wanderings Emily Pierce, who has
since climbed to the nights of immortal
ity; bat doubt if life will be long enough
TO enable me ever to feel quite rested from
that adventure.
There are not wanting those unaspiring
and therefore incredulous souls, who-hav-
ing never assembled beyond the valleys of
life, either metaphoricaily or literally, but
stick to beaten paths from the cradle to
the grave-snoer at the possibility of the
undertaking, and hint that those who claim
70 have accomplished it are merely ro-
mancing. | can testify, however, to the
feasibility of it, even for ladies, if they are
physically strong and spiritually enthusi-
astic enough-and the latter isby no means
the least important qualification, for the
exaltatioE of the hour will carry one over
dangers and difficulties which, without it,
would be insurmOuntable.
THERE STANDS GOLD Popo,"
Always on the horinon-the highest noun
tain in North America, and one of the
halfdozen highest in the world-a perpet-
ual temptation 10 the adventurous. As
the traveller nears the Valley of Mexico,
the first objects that greet his gaze are the
twin volcanoes Popocatapetl and Lxtacci-
huatl, (the latter pronounced Ees-tah see
wat-l), side by side, both wearing the white
robes of the sky. Their enormous snow
fields, cleaning in the tropic sunshine. at
tract his eye first in the morning and last
ut night. Who can remain long under
their shadows and not become possessed of
an ungovernable desire to place beneath
his feet that marvel of his school-days
the Monarch Of Mexico? For many the
sight of the mountain becomes sort of
fascination, which, like Macbeth, "doth
murder sleeper are they bewitched by
the genius of old Popo, the queer little
brownie whom the Indians call Cuantel-
portle, who dwells among the eternal
buOWo dilh Htl 20 Va nlHuSio l'tlSOll dCtDIl-
ing to his elfsh moodsp
If you decide to ascend, the proper pre-
liminary is to find somebody who has been
there before you and knows all about it by
actual experience. These sophisticated
ones are not numerous, yet a few of them
may always be found The start must I've
made from this village Of Ameca- MEGA, on
the north side OF The mountain, but most
of the preparations can best bc made in the
City of Mexico, forty miles away. First
be sure to find General Sanchez Ochoa,
Governor of the Military School at Cha
pultepec, who regularly owns the volcano
aud works it as sulphur mine, and from
whom alone can he obtained the necessary
permission to pass two nights at "the
halfway house." Tlamacas, midway be-
tween the valley and the crater. There
are other very important particulars which
your informant may neglect TO mention.
For example, do not forget that the feet
must be kept warm and dry by pairs upon
pairs of stout wooden hose, for the many
hours of climbing through wet SHOWS to
ever colder nights; quantity Of cloth in
and sandals with spikes in the soles for
scaling the ice cones; a stout stick, with a
spike driven into the point, TO assist in
the climbing-for in all this land of
mountains there is not such thing as a
real Alpinstock; wells and colored glasses,
TO protect the eyes from the dazzling glare
of the tropic sun upon the snow-Gelds,
which in lofty attitudes, combined with
excessive fatigue and extraordinary exer-
ton, sometimes produces blindness; the
lightest clothing you can secure. consistent
with warmth-for before your task is half
accomplished you will find that
"TBE CHRISTOPHER BECOMES A BURDEN"
And each additional ounce seems to weigh
ton; plenty Of blankets for the cold
nights at TlamacaS and provisions for four
days-by no means forgetting the brandy
bottle and a few simple remedies to be
used in cases of faintness, or vertigo, which
the thin air of "tho land Of the sky" is
liable to superinduoc.
Guides, horses, food, etc, can be pro-
cured at Ameca-mecs. You should start
for the halfway house as early in the
morning as possible, in order to traverse
the gloomy forests before nightfall; but in
this country of 9s1adnn (H tomorrow it
is one thing to resolve and quite another
to accomplish. As strangers come to this
village for no other purpose than theascent
Of Popocatapetl, one is immediately sur
rounded by guides and traders, ard has no
difficulty in procuring all requirements.
But, remember that in every case when
dealing with Mexican it is absolutely
necessary to "dicker," for whatever may
be his price, he expects to come down Mt
least two-thirds. If you accept his primary
offer he has no further respect for you, but,
considering you lawful prey as non compo8
meHtLs, will proceed to cheat you beyond
all account.
1t is best to employ peon and two horses
to each person, and SIN experienced guide
for every two or three. With an ordinary
party the expense of each for the whole
trip, from the City of Mexico to the crater
and back again, need not exceed SIS. But
above all things be sure to carry plenty of
blankets aud a bountful supply of caloric-
producing food, for the the quick transition
from eternal summer TO eternal snow is
trying to the strongest constitution.
The latest measurement makes Popo-
catapetl little more than 10000 feet in
hight, one of the mightiest in that "burn-
ing girdle' which surrounds the Pacific.
Its twin, Ixtaccihuatl, is 5000 feet lower
long, uneven ridge, instead of cone; but,
being that much nearer the limits OF
vision, looks the greater of the two from
the valley. Facing eastward, lxtaccihuatl
Ia Muier BLuSoa, or
"THE WHITE WOMAN
Is really suggestive, by her shape, of q
dead giantess robed for burial. Far aud
near this long-extinct volcano is known as
'The White Woman" ard from the City
of Mexico as far as the plains Of Amcca-
MEGA the resemblance is the same to a
dead woman stretched out on her bier
covered with a white sheet. The contour
of face, breast and limbs is perfect, the hail
streaming in long, silyery locks back from
the snowy forehead and down the sides o.
the bier. The feet are turned toward hel
companion giant, and between the two lies
q brown and trecless ridge.
There is tradition among the Indians
that these two volcanoes were once living
human beings in the early years of the
world, both Of gigantic stature. Unfortu.
nately for the colossal pair, they commit.
ted some misdemeanor which SO offended
the Supreme Deity that he changed them
into mountains. He struck the giantes: